Legend of Rivers grows

When Philip Rivers took down Dallas Cowboys safety Barry Church at the end of a second-quarter fumble return that almost everyone in the stadium figured was destined for the end zone, Rivers did more than stop a touchdown in a meaningless game. He showed with that head-on tackle exactly what he means to the Chargers -- beyond the NFL’s best passer rating (105.0) over the past two seasons.

“He’s our fearless leader,” defensive end Jacques Cesaire said. “When you see stuff like that, you know you have to pick up your game. That’s the type of leadership … guys are attracted to and rally around. If there was ever any question if he was the leader of this team, that play, plain and simple, answered that. And I don’t think there was any doubt anyway. He’s always been our leader.”

Of course, there was the danger of the leader getting hurt, something head coach Norv Turner acknowledged even as he praised Rivers afterward.

Rivers never doubted he should make the tackle.

“Preseason, whatever it is, how do you just let a guy go?” Rivers said. “I don’t think it was anything special, it was just reaction.”

He just didn’t know if he’d be able to pull it off as 6-foot-3, 260-pound linebacker Anthony Spencer appeared poised to block for Church.

“He had a guy halfway in front of him, if he’d have just let him block me,” Rivers said. “If I’d have got in a position I had to take on a block, I was done. But they never did. All I was hoping was please don’t cut this thing back, because there would be no chance.”

Mathews takes it on

Rookie running back Ryan Mathews, who has averaged 4.9 yards on his 21 preseason carries, continues to earn rave reviews, the smiles his linemen wear as they speak of him seemingly impossible to diminish.

However, it’s not difficult for Mathews to stay humble.

Rivers left Qualcomm Stadium with his passing elbow wrapped in ice as a precaution after taking a helmet while getting crushed on a sack at least partially the result of Mathews not finishing a block on Spencer.

“It’s a part of learning,” Mathews said. “I let him get to the outside on me. I should have cut him. It settles you, keeps you level-headed, let’s you know this is what you’ve got to work on.”

Plans after Thomas

Not entirely surprised that Tra Thomas hung up his cleats after 12 seasons, the Chargers will go forward with two second-year players at left tackle and an open mind.

“It’s disappointing on our end that we don’t have him for this year,” general manager A.J. Smith said. “It would have been a good veteran insurance policy with many years of experience to call upon if needed. But Tra felt it was time to step away, and we respect that. We appreciate him making his decision early. We will now move on and shore up our offensive line.”

Pleased with the development of Brandyn Dombrowski, the presumed starter, and Tyronne Green, the Chargers will nonetheless likely look to add depth with a player who is released by another team before the season or make a trade for a veteran.

The options likely do not include an imminent signing of Marcus McNeill, the two-time Pro Bowler who has yet to sign his one-year contract tender.

Asked if he was bothered by being dangerously thin at left tackle, Smith said, “Everything bothers me.”

Back in June, Thomas had been out of work and ready to settle into retirement. Said Smith: “We told him we’d love to have him join our team, and if you have a change of heart, let us know.”

Thomas, Garay work well

Rookie fifth rounder Cam Thomas passed his next test, getting some good push while working at nose tackle against the first-team (albeit patchwork) Cowboys’ offensive line.

“I felt good,” Thomas said. “… But that’s just one step.”

Antonio Garay continues to excel and looks to be the front-runner to start at nose tackle.